Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1902 — ROOSEVELT AGAINST SCHLEY. [ARTICLE]

ROOSEVELT AGAINST SCHLEY.

President’s Decision Is Adverse to Admiral’s Appeal. President Roosevelt has decided against Admiral Schley in his controversy with Admiral Sampson on all the material points in the affair. An epitome of the chief executive’s findings on Schley’s appeal from the findingg of the naval court of inquiry is ns follows: That the battle before Santiago when the Spanish fleet was destroyed was a captains’ battle and the credit of* the victory belongs first to Admiral Sampson, who planned and bore the responsibility of the engagement, aud then to the other officers of the American fleet, among them Commodore Schley. Although Sampson was not present during the battle no other officer assumed command beyond that of the ship on which he stood, anil therefore all credit must be apportioned according to work nnd responsibility. Schley's part in the battle was confined to the Brooklyn and was creditable, except the loop, which was a mistake. Schley’s mistakes while in independent command of the flying squadron in May are enumerated as the dilatory operations, the retrograde movement, the disobedience of orders and the “inaccurate and misleading reports.”